Method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive-engines.



v H. F. SHEPHERD. METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE OF HOT PLATES FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES APPLICATUJN FILED NOV. 25. 1916- 1,258,155. ratentedmar. 5, 1918.

INVENTOR.

I ATTORNEYS.

UNITED sTAT s PATENT oEEIoE.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T IBESSEMER GAS ENGINE COMPANY, OF GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- srnvmm. I

METHOD or CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE or HOT PLATES Eon EXPLOSIVE- V ENGINES.

1,253,155 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 5, 1918-.

Application filed November 25, 1916. Serial No. 133,870.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Grove City, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Controlling the Temperature of Hot Plates for Explosive-Engines, of which the followperature.

ing is a specification. V

his invention relates to the method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like and consists in certain improvements therein as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed I out in the claims.

In the so-called hotbulb engine, the late I is maintainedgat a temperature at whic the explosive mixture willignite. The temperature of the plate is controlled by the heat produced in the hot,,bulb.thr.ough the burnmg of the gases exploded in the running of the engine. This heat varies with the intensity of the explosion and a variation in the amount of gases burned and come quently the temperature of the plate varies. This variation is objectionable. If the temperature is sufl'icient to give proper ignition at light loads the higher temperature inci-v dent to' the burning of a greater amount of gases for the heavier loads tends to crack the oil used in the mixture and this produces carbon or an objectionable residue. To obviate this diflicult several plans have been adopted, the usua one being to inject water with the explosive mixture and vary the amount of water introduced sufliciently to control the temperature within working limits. This adds to the working parts of the engine and is not entirely satisfactory in its results.

'The present invention is designed to automatically control the temperature of the hot plate of the hot bulb sons to g ve it a proper ignition temperature and st ll prevent ave wide variation from this temn carrying out my method I use an apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing as follows: The figures a central vertical section of an explosive engine wherein 1 marks the cylinder, 2 the piston operating therein, 3 the c linder head, 4 the water jacket for the bee 5 the 1 ition or i combustion chamber and 6. the in ector for introducing fuel or fuel and air.

The hot plate 7 is preferably arranged opposite the injector 6 and above the combustion or ignition chamber. The plate forms one wall of a receptacle 8 which is arranged in a jacketed housing 9, the receptacle 8. being spaced at 10 from the walls of this housing 9, *and thus insulated from it. The receptacle has a flange 11 which is seated on the outer face of the housing and clamped in position by a condensing head 12. The condensin which isconnec pipes 14.

A liquid 16 is provided for the receptacle 8. This liquid fully covers the plate 7 ,the level being indicated by the line X. This liquid has a vaporizing point at or' above the ignition point of the explosive mixture. I have found sulfur which is a liquid at the temperatures to which it is here ordinarily head has a cavity 13 with the circulating subjected and which has a vaporizing point' of 446 centigrade'at atmospheric pressure 1 Well adapted for the purpose. Mercury which has a vaporizing oint at 360 centigrade may be used to a vantage with some mixtures.

In the operation of the device the heat generated in the combustion chamber is communicated, to the plate 7. This heat is absorbed by the liquid .16. So long. as this heat is at or below the vaporizing point of the liquid no vapor is formed and no heat is thus dissipated. Inasmuch as there is a very slight connection between the receptacle 8 and thesurrounding walls it is evident that a very slight amount of heat can be thus dissipated. As soon as the tem erature rises above the boiling point 0 the liquid, vapor is formed and this vapor rising comes into contact with the condensing head or condenser 12 which is constantly cooled by a circulating medium, such as water, introduced through one pipe, 14 and discharged through the other. The liquid so condensed returns to the body of the liquid 16 and remains there until again vaporized through the absorption of sufficient heat from the plate to accomplish this. The space abovethe level X forms an insulatin space between the condenser and the liqui a is thus kept within very close limits at a uniform temperature which temperature is the most desirable one in accomplishing the purpose, that is to say, it must be high enough to get a perfect ignition and low enough to prevent cracking of the oil and formation of carbon.

It may be desired to vary the temperature at which the plate is maintained and this may be accomplished by putting the receptacle 8 under pressure. This can be accomplished by introducing air or a neutral gas through the pipe 15. This not only aflords a convenient means for varying the temperature at which the plate 7 is maintained but it also affords a convenient means for a utilization of different materials for the li uid 16 because the vaporizing point of di erent materials maybe varied by varying this pressure.

It will be understood that the condenser 12 may be a wall of the receptacle or may be at a point remote from the receptacle and connected therewith.

While I have shown and described a condenser operatin on the vapor as a means of dissipating t e heat from the liquid I do not wish to be limited to this means 1n carrying out the broadest phases of my invention. i Y

Anauxiliary hot plate 17 may be provided for starting the engine which may be heated with a torch or other. means The ignition will be affected throu h this plate until the plate 7 has reache the proper temperature.

What I claim as new is 1. The method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having a vaporizing point at or above the ignition point of the explosive mixture ignited by the hot plate.

2.-The method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having. a vaporizing point at or above the ignition point of the explosive mixture ignited by the hot plate and dissipating the heat absorbed by the liquid.

and the like which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having a vaporizing point at or above the ignition point of the explosivemixture ignited by the hot plate, dissipating the heat absorbed by the liquid through the vaporization of the liquid, condensing the vapor and returning it to the liquid.

5. The method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having a vaporizing point at .or above the ignition point of the explosive mixture ignited by.

the hot late, dissipating the heat absorbed by the quid through the vaporization of the liquid, condensing the vapor at a point insulated from the liquid an to the liquid.

6. The method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by liquid and automatically varying the application of the liquid to increase the absorption as the intensity of the explosion varies to maintain an approximately uniform temperature of the hot plate.

7 The method for controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the'like sub ected to temperatures varying with the variations in the explosions to maintain a pre -'determined temperature which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having a 'vaporizin point at the pre-determined temperature an dissipating the heat through the vapor.

'8. The method of controlling the temperature of hot plates for explosive engines and the like subjected to temperatures varying with the variations in the explosions to maintain a pre-determined temperature which consists in absorbing the heat from the plate by a liquid having a, vaporizing point at the pre-determined temperature and dissipating the heat through the vapor and condensing the vapor and returning it to the liqui In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD F. SHEPHERD.-

returning it 

